Ireland's familiar, fiery cocktail of sex and religion is fuelling an extraordinary argument
about naked women exposing themselves. The women are
sheela-na-gigs,
sexually explicit medieval stone carvings usually found above church doorways, which the
National Museum of Ireland is accused of hiding away.

Eamonn Kelly, keeper of antiquities at the museum, insists that, although only two
are currently on display, all the museum's 13 examples have been
exhibited at one time or another. Mr Kelly, who has just published
a book about sheela-na-gigs, dismisses the suggestion that his
exhibition policy is influenced by a prudish aversion to the
carvings, which almost always depict naked women clutching their genitalia.

'When the whole pre-historic collection was taken off display during rebuilding work, we didn't
have a single complaint. But we're inundated with letters about
the sheelas, demanding that they should all be exhibited. People
think they're hidden in the crypt wrapped in nappies, which is just laughable,' said Mr Kelly.

But this is not good enough for Jack Roberts, and English-born antiquarian who has
studied sheela-na-gigs since he moved to Ireland more than 20
years ago. He perceives a conspiracy to suppress a full debate
about the historical significance of the objects, led by the
Roman Catholic Church and supported by the academic establishment.
"They are being hidden away. There is no question about
it. Even the two on display are tucked away in a corner. They
don't mix with the idea of Christianity the Church wants to promote.
I've been told by priests that I shouldn't highlight this aspect
of Christianity, but I just tell them that the Church highlighted
these objects by placing them over church doorways," said Mr Roberts.

The origin and function of sheela-na-gigs is the subject of fierce controversy. Experts
cannot even agree on what their name means. Mr Kelly believes
it probably translates as either 'the hag of the breasts' or
'the old woman on her hunkers'. He said: 'The term "sile"
in Irish refers to an old woman, and it was almost certainly
taken to Australia by Irish convicts and emigrants and gave rise
to the Australian term "Sheela".'

He believes the carvings were imported to Ireland by the Normans in the twelfth century
and served as warnings against the perils of sexual lust. The
Irish may have interpreted them in their own way later, linking
them to pre-Christian fertility cults.

Mr Roberts, along with archaeologists such as professor Etienne Rynne from the University
of Galway, claims they are part of an older Irish tradition and
insists that, far from warning against female sexuality, they
celebrate it in a manner similar to goddess cults in other parts of the world.

'It's worth noting that a lot of the earliest examples are found on churches and abbeys
associated with the females branch of the Church. Ireland had
a dual form of Christianity, with a female church led by figures
like St Bridget operating parallel to the male church,' he said.

Interest in sheela-na-gigs has been growing steadily in recent years and the National Museum
of Ireland is sending four examples to the University of Miami
next year for a special exhibition. Similar carvings can be
found on churches in England, Scotland and Wales, but not in
such large numbers as in Ireland, where more than 100 survive.
T-shirts with sheela-na-gigs are among the most popular items
in the National Museum of Ireland shop.

A Sheela-na-gig was stolen from Kiltinan Church in Co Tipperary in 1990, prompting the local
historical society to offer a reward for information leading
to its return. Despite an international search involving Interpol,
it has yet to be recovered. An attempt to steal another the
following year was foiled by a sting operation organized by the
Gardai and the FBI, with an FBI agent posing as a wealthy Boston patron.

The law governing the sale of antiquities has since been tightened and Mr Kelly is
confident that the thieves have turned their sights elsewhere.
Ireland has the strictest laws in Europe governing the sale
of antiquities. Nobody would ever be able to sell a sheela-na-gig, he said.

Mr Roberts claims that vandalism is the real problem because most remaining
sheela-na-gigs
are in remote, misty corners of the country and are almost impossible
to protect. He blames religious zealots for most of the damage,
but predicts that as Irish society changes the sheelas will reassume
their rightful status as a cherished national symbol. 'It's happening
already. In the art world, women artists are turning to sheela-na-gigs
for inspiration. A new generation of Irish people wants to reclaim
these dangerous, subversive objects,' he said.

Boyne Valley Private Day Tours

Pick up and return to your accommodation or cruise ship. Suggested day tour:
Newgrange World Heritage site, 10th century High Crosses at Monasterboice,
Hill of Tara the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, Bective Abbey and Trim Castle the largest Norman castle in Ireland
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